Nice Pryce, Baby! (Japanese: チョウジジム！こおりのたたかい！Chōji Gym! Ice Battle!) is the 238th episode of the Pokémon anime. It was first broadcast in Japan on February 28, 2002 and in the United States on March 8, 2003.

Contents

Blurb

Having earned Pryce's respect and permission to face the trainer in a gym battle, Ash makes the unlikely choice of sending out Cyndaquil, a Fire Pokémon, to face his opponent on an Ice battlefield. Fortunately, Ash's strategy pans out as he leads the gym leader to lower his defenses, allowing Ash to take the first victory in a two-on-two match. Next the gym leader sends out his trusty Piloswine, which immediately unleashes a Blizzard attack that completely alters the battlefield, allowing it to make quick work of Ash's defending Pokémon. With one victory each, the round enters sudden death with each trainer playing his oldest, most reliable Pokémon. A seasoned duo, Ash and Pikachu may match the teamwork of the gym leader and his Piloswine, but will this be enough in a slippery ice arena that is second nature to Piloswine, but whereon Pikachu struggles even to stand?

Plot

In the last episode, Ash has earned Pryce’s respect and permission to face him in a Gym battle. Pryce is grooming his Piloswine when Ash and his friends arrive. They then get ready to start their Gym battle. Meanwhile, Team Rocket plans to steal all the Ice Pokémon, but keep some for themselves. The Gym battle then begins. Ash makes the smart choice of sending out Cyndaquil, a Fire-type Pokémon, against Pryce's Dewgong, but at a disadvantage, because he will have to face his opponent on an ice battlefield. Fortunately, Ash’s strategy pans out as he leads the Gym Leader to lower his Defenses, allowing Ash to take the first victory in a two-on-two match.

Next, Pryce sends out his trusty Piloswine. Meanwhile, Team Rocket is about to steal the Pokémon in their trusty net, but they are frozen by them with Ice Beam. We switch back to Piloswine, which immediately unleashes a Blizzard attack that completely alters the battlefield, allowing it to make quick work of Ash’s Cyndaquil. With one victory each, the round enters sudden death with each Trainer playing his oldest, most reliable Pokémon. A seasoned duo, Ash and Pikachu prepare to battle Pryce's Piloswine. Things start out rough when Piloswine releases a barrage of Blizzard attacks on Pikachu, who is still struggling to stand up straight on the ice. After seeing the ice pillars on the battlefield formed by Piloswine's Blizzard, Ash commands Pikachu to slide on the ice underneath Piloswine. This confuses it, as well as Pryce. Then, Pikachu ricochets off of the pillars while sliding, easily dodging the Blizzards. When Pryce tells Piloswine to use Blizzard on the whole battlefield, Pikachu slides under it, and unleashes a powerful Thunder.

Almost out of energy, Piloswine uses Rest. Ash tells Pikachu to use Quick Attack before it heals, but he's too late, and it uses Fury Attack and Take Down. Pryce tells Ash to give in the towel, but he won't give up. The battle then continues on. Ash commands him to use Quick Attack to counter Piloswine's Fury Attack. A direct hit in the nose, Piloswine slides back. Pikachu unleashes a massive Thunderbolt, which does nothing to it. Piloswine uses Take Down, and Pikachu jumps on its face and uses Thunder. This causes some damage, and creates a hole in the field, putting Piloswine in the water, as Pikachu uses Thunderbolt again, causing more damage because it's all wet. Piloswine shakes it off, leaving Ash and co. surprised. It uses Fury Attack, and Pikachu can't dodge it due to it losing control. Ash commands a Thunder, which sends Pikachu flying backwards. Pikachu looks exhausted, but stands up, ready to fight. Pryce then forfeits, which gives Ash the victory under a T.K.O.. Ash isn't pleased at first, saying he didn't actually win, but once he hears how much Pryce admired his strength and that he just didn't want his Piloswine to get hurt, he gladly accepts the Badge.

Trivia

When Jessie finds out about Pryce being the gym leader, she says that Pryce wasn't right, a reference to the game show The Price Is Right.

When Pikachu uses Thunderbolt while Piloswine is in the water, Brock says that because of this, Thunderbolt's power is double. Although this isn't true, this is similar to the concept of the move Soak, added in Gen V, which makes the opponent soaking wet, making it pure Water type.